Obituaries from January 2010

Debbra Lyn (Hatton) Letsche(01/29/10)Debbra Lyn (Hatton) Letsche died Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, from complications following surgery. Debbie was born Feb. 24, 1954, in Ridgecrest, Calif., the daughter of Rullon and Ethyl Hatton. She graduated from Burroughs High School in 1972. She met her future husband, Tony Letsche, in Ridgecrest in 1970. ...

Rev. William J. Ortmann(01/29/10)The Rev. William J. Ortmann, 77, of San Diego, Calif., and formerly of Remsen, died Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City. Father Bill was born March 12, 1932, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Le Mars, the son of Henry and Regina Ortmann. ...

Paul K. Otterson(01/28/10)Paul K. Otterson, 51, of Le Mars, died Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010, at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Paul Kenneth Otterson was born March 13, 1958, at Sioux Falls, S.D., the son of Kenneth Harley and Marion (Cruse) Otterson. ...

Arlene Swift(01/26/10)Arlene Swift, 91, of Akron, died Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010, at the Akron Care Center in Akron. Services are pending with the Carlsen Funeral Home -- Schroeder Chapel in Akron. Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family through www.carlsenfuneralhome.com...

Teri Lewis(01/25/10)Teri Lewis, 40, of Le Mars, died early Saturday morning, Jan. 23, 2010, at her home in Le Mars surrounded by family after a seven year illness with cancer. Teresa Michelle Carter was born March 21, 1969, at Onawa, the daughter of Lawrence "Larry" and Ada Carter. Teri grew up in northwest Iowa communities...

Richard A. Clarey(01/25/10)Richard A. Clarey, 78, formerly of Merrill, died peacefully Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, in Petaluma, Calif., with his loving wife Jean by his side. Services will be 11 a.m. today (Monday) at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 150 St. Joseph Way, Cotati, Calif. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Petaluma. Visitation was 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, with a vigil service at 4 p.m., at Parent-Sorensen Mortuary and Crematory, 850 Keokuk St., Petaluma, Calif...

George Hagar(01/25/10)George Hagar, 89, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, at Banner Hospice House in Mesa, Ariz. George was born Sept. 13, 1920, in Alton, the son of George D. and Marietta Nichols (Van Steenwyk) Hagar. During his childhood the family lived in various towns. ...

Delphone 'Dele' Willms(01/25/10)Delphine "Dele" Willms, 87, of Le Mars, died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, at Good Samaritan Society-Le Mars in Le Mars. Mass of Christian Burial has been changed to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars, due to weather conditions. There will be one hour of visitation at the church prior to Mass Tuesday...

George Hagar(01/22/10)George Hagar, 89, of Le Mars, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, at Banner Hospice House in Mesa, Ariz. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, at the Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars with the Rev. Randy Rasmussen officiating. Interment will be in the Remsen Cemetery. Visitations with family present will be from noon until service time...

Marvin Herzig(01/22/10)Marvin Herzig, 82, of Van Nuys, Calif., and formerly of Le Mars, died Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010, at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank, Calif. Marvin Herzig was born Nov. 6, 1927, in Akron, the son of Albert and Ruby (McCorkell) Herzig. Marvin was the second of five children born into this family. He attended school and graduated from Central High School in Le Mars in 1945...

Delphone 'Dele' Willms(01/22/10)Delphine "Dele" Willms, 87, of Le Mars, died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, at Good Samaritan Society-Le Mars in Le Mars. Delphine Mathilda Willms was born Jan. 28, 1922, near Oyens. She was one of six children born to Frank and Margaret (Kinsel) Fiedler. She attended country school near her home and graduated from Le Mars High School. Following graduation, Dele worked at Gus Pech Foundry in Le Mars...

James D. Ver Mulm(01/21/10)James D. Ver Mulm, 83, of Sheldon, died Monday, Jan. 18, 2010, at the Sanford Sheldon Medical Center. James D. Ver Mulm, the son of Case and Jennie (Van Iperen) Ver Mulm, was born on a farm near Alton on March 31, 1926. He grew up in the Alton and Ashton areas. He received his early education in country school and attended high school in Newkirk. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army from 1950 until 1952...

Delphine 'Dele' Willms(01/21/10)Delphine "Dele" Willms, 87, of Le Mars, died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, at Good Samaritan Society-Le Mars. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars. The Rev. Matt Hewitt will officiate. Burial will follow at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. ...

George Hagar(01/20/10)George Hagar, 89, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, in the Banner Hospice at Mesa, Ariz. Funeral arrangements are pending with the Carlsen Funeral Home of Le Mars. Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family through www.carlsenfuneralhome.com...

Elvira Arens(01/19/10)Elvira (Mousel) Arens, 89, of Remsen, died Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010, at the Happy Siesta Care Center in Remsen, after a brief illness. Elvira Mousel was born on the family farm near Alton, on Jan. 3, 1921, the daughter of the late Frank and Mary Konz Mousel...

Marvin Herzig(01/19/10)Marvin Herzig, 82, of Van Nuys, Calif., formerly of the Le Mars area, died Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010, at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank, Calif. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 25, at New Horizons United Church of Christ in Akron. Burial will be in Resthaven Memory Gardens, Le Mars. Visitation with the family will be 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Carlsen Funeral Home - Schroeder Chapel in Akron...

Alta Erickson(01/18/10)Alta Erickson, 99, of Cherokee, died Friday evening, Jan.15, 2010, at the Country Side Estates in Cherokee. Alta was born Sept. 12, 1910, at Tripp, S.D., the daughter of Melvin and Addie Mae (Shearer) Watson. She was the youngest of 11 children. She attended country school in South Dakota. Her family moved to Iowa in 1932...

Alice Kruse (01/18/10)Alice M. Kruse, 102, of Blair, Neb., and formerly of Le Mars, died Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, at Crowell Memorial Home in Blair, Neb. Alice was born March 2, 1907, on the family farm near Clay Center, Neb., the daughter of John and Martha Kruse. She began her education in a one room rural school and graduated from Clay Center High School in 1924. She graduated from Western Union College (later Westmar College) in Le Mars, in 1929...

William 'Bill' Miller(01/18/10)William "Bill" Miller, 59, of rural Marcus, died unexpectedly at his home Friday, Jan. 15, 2010. William Walter Miller was born Feb. 26, 1950, in Le Mars, one of four sons born to Darrell and Esther (Horstman) Miller. He attended school in Marcus, graduating from Marcus High School in 1968. ...

Cora Jans(01/15/10)Cora (Ross) Jans, 87, of Hawarden, and formerly of Akron, died Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010, at Hillcrest Health Care in Hawarden. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Westfield Congregational United Church of Christ in Westfield. Pastor Barb Ross will officiate. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Akron. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today (Friday) with the family present from 5-7 p.m., all at Carlsen Funeral Home -- Schroeder Chapel in Akron...

Carson L. Petersen(01/13/10)Carson L. Petersen, 97, formerly of Pierson, died Tuesday morning, Jan. 12, 2010, at the Correctionville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Correctionville. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Johnson-Earnest Funeral Home in Kingsley, with the Rev. William Cotten officiating. Interment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery, Pierson. Military respects will be accorded by the Harrison-Pedersen American Legion Post #291...

Marian Postlewait(01/13/10)Marian Postlewait, 99, of Akron, died Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, at the Akron Care Center in Akron. Graveside services will be 2:30 p.m. Friday at Memorial Park Cemetery in Sioux City. Pastor Steve Jewett of New Horizons United Church of Christ in Akron will officiate. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. Thursday, with the family present after 6 p.m., and a prayer service at 7 p.m., all at Carlsen Funeral Home -- Schroeder Chapel in Akron...

Carson L. Petersen(01/12/10)Carson L. Petersen, 97, formerly of Pierson, died Tuesday morning, Jan. 12, 2010, at the Correctionville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Correctionville. Funeral arrangements are pending at Johnson-Earnest Funeral Home in Kingsley, Iowa. Thoughts, stories and condolences may be directed to the family on the www.mauerjohnsonfh.com website...

Ninon Netley(01/11/10)Ninon Netley, 86, of Akron, died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at the Bickford Cottages Assisted Living in Sioux City. Ninon Haddock was born Feb. 4, 1923, on the family farm between Hornick and Holly Springs, the daughter of Jessie B. and Marie (Hawkins) Haddock. Ninon attended country school near Holly Springs and later had the opportunity to attend and graduate from high school in Moville...

Junior D. 'J.R.' Vaughn(01/11/10)Junior D. "J.R." Vaughn, 74, of Sioux City, died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, surround by family at a local hospital after a brief illness. Junior was born May 1, 1935 in Le Mars, the son of Vera Roberts Elsen. On 5/5/55 he married Carleene S. Johnson at St. John's Lutheran Church in Merrill. The couple moved to Sioux City Dec. 1, 1967...

Scott Schoenrock(01/08/10)Scott Schoenrock, 47, of Sheldon, and formerly of Le Mars, died suddenly Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010, at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars. Scott James Schoenrock was born July 18, 1962, at Sioux City, the son of James and Marilyn (Calkin) Schoenrock. Scott was baptized at Faith Lutheran Church in Sioux City, and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Hinton. ...

Ninon Netley(01/08/10)Ninon Netley, 86, of Akron, Iowa passed away Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at the Bickford Cottages Assisted Living in Sioux City. Funeral arrangements are pending with Carlsen Funeral Home, Schroeder Chapel of Akron. Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family through www.carlsenfuneralhome.com...

Junior D. 'J.R.' Vaughn(01/08/10)Junior D. "J.R." Vaughn, 74, of Sioux City, and formerly of Le Mars, died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at a Sioux City hospital following a brief illness. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City, with Chaplain Stacey Gerhart officiating. Graveside service will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. A luncheon will follow at Lally's Restaurant in Le Mars...

Scott Schoenrock(01/07/10)Scott Schoenrock, 47, of Sheldon, formerly of Le Mars, died suddenly Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010, at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sheldon United Methodist Church, Sheldon, with the Rev. Marvin Lindley officiating. Inurnment will be in the East Lawn Cemetery, Sheldon, at a later date...

Jean M. Blakely(01/05/10)Jean Marie Blakely, 86, of Iowa City, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, at Atrium Village in Hills, following a brief illness. Jean was born April 5, 1923, at Prairie Rose in rural Shelby County, Iowa, the daughter of Alvin L. and Sylvia Mae (Rold) Christensen. After graduating from Harlan High School in 1940, she married Floyd T. Blakely Aug. 13, 1941. Floyd and Jean farmed at Harlan until 1951 when they moved to Le Mars...

Jerald J. Barthole(01/04/10)Jerald James Barthole, 78, of Kingsley, died Friday, Jan. 1, 2010, at the Kingsley Nursing & Rehab Center in Kingsley. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Kingsley. Burial will be in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery. ...

Gladys Graham(01/04/10)Gladys Irene (Kurtz) Graham, 96, of Kingsley, died Friday, Jan. 1, 2010, at Kingsley Nursing & Rehab Center. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. today (Monday) at United Church of Christ in Kingsley. Burial will be in Kingsley Cemetery. Visitation with the family present was 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, with a 4 p.m. prayer service, at Rohde Funeral Home in Kingsley...

Kenneth L. Rhodes(01/04/10)Kenneth L. Rhodes, 52, of Le Mars died unexpectedly Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009, at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars. Ken was born April 29, 1957, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Le Mars, the son of Richard and Ruth Ann (Pick) Rhodes. Ken spent his childhood years in Cleghorn. At the age of 13, he and his family moved to Remsen. Ken graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1975. He attended NITC in Sheldon for auto mechanics graduating in 1977...

Joan E. Sitzmann(01/04/10)Mrs. Jim (Joan) Sitzmann, 77, of Le Mars died Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, from complications with Alzheimer's disease, surrounded by her family at home in Le Mars. The former Joan Elizabeth McColligan was born Feb. 24, 1932 in Sioux City, the daughter of Albert and Katherine (Powers) McColligan. She grew up in Sioux City and graduated in 1950 from Bishop Heelan High School...